Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Million Dollar Baked Ziti recipe. Layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, and a creamy cheese mixture, all baked to perfection for a dish that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
Pasta:
1 pound ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef, 1 small onion diced, 3 cloves garlic minced, 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce, 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture:
8 ounces cream cheese softened, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, brown sausage and onion, add garlic, then stir in sauces and seasonings. Simmer.
- Mix cream cheese, ricotta, sour cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Layer pasta, cheese mixture, and meat sauce in a baking dish. Top with mozzarella.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncovered for 15 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish with basil before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake.
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey and reduced-fat cheeses.
- Pair with garlic bread and a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
